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Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

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Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#161

Post by TheRealPomax »

echelon wrote: post #157
nullc wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This could go very bad for Sonos. How could it? It's all server side. If such a virus existed, they'd just undo all the 'recycling' after the day it started circulating.

There's both a hardware and software bricking component. Edit: I reread the thread and now I'm not so sure. It might be entirely software blacklisting. But if that's the case, can't you ip blackhole Sonos' servers and still have it all work?

you think Sonos' equipment works without an internet connection?

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#163

Post by echelon »

TheRealPomax wrote: post #161
echelon wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's both a hardware and software bricking component. Edit: I reread the thread and now I'm not so sure. It might be entirely software blacklisting. But if that's the case, can't you ip blackhole Sonos' servers and still have it all work?

you think Sonos' equipment works without an internet connection?

I think so. The clients are all SOAP/UPnP, and there are lots of open source clients and API bindings. I could be wrong, though.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#164

Post by TheRealPomax »

noodlesUK wrote: post #10

What’s intensely frustrating about this is that audio equipment is one of the few areas where old high end kit is still absolutely fantastic for current users. I have an NAD 3020 from the 1980s which works perfectly with the same pair of speakers that it was bought with. I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed.

Sure, but new Sonos speakers are not that. They are a moderately okay speaker with wireless networking and control software that consumes an app-mediated digital byte stream, and then in the speaker decodes it to audio to perform playback.

If you want good speakers, you don't buy a device that's 50% streaming audio circuitry, you buy a same-priced speaker that's actually a good speaker.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#165

Post by hurrdurr2 »

throwaway100773 wrote: post #154
echelon wrote: post #144

This could go very bad for Sonos. Imagine a virus that looks for Sonos devices on a network and bricks them all via "recycle mode"! The API probably isn't even locked down. I think it's unauthenticated SOAP/UPnP. An even dumber attack: guests with your wifi credentials can download the Sonos app and break your gear. It's entirely unauthenticated.

Im in the market for sound equipment. I just crossed these guys off my list.

Same here. The only way to get these kinds of asinine behavior to stop is to hurt them in their pocket book; since it's apparently the only thing they care about.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#166

Post by hurrdurr2 »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #28
noodlesUK wrote: post #10

What’s intensely frustrating about this is that audio equipment is one of the few areas where old high end kit is still absolutely fantastic for current users. I have an NAD 3020 from the 1980s which works perfectly with the same pair of speakers that it was bought with. I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed.

Millennial audiophools need their 192kHz 32-bit playback. Grandpa's sound system just won't cut it for reproducing those refined ultrasonics.

As if the average Millenial can afford expensive audio equipment.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#167

Post by [deleted] »

userbinator wrote: post #107
noodlesUK wrote: post #10

What’s intensely frustrating about this is that audio equipment is one of the few areas where old high end kit is still absolutely fantastic for current users. I have an NAD 3020 from the 1980s which works perfectly with the same pair of speakers that it was bought with. I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed.

I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed. People's ears have not changed, and the ability to reproduce sound has been nearly perfected. If you're not too picky/audiophillic, like most people, the requirements are even lower.

[deleted]

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#168

Post by gok »

cissou wrote: post #49

Am I misunderstanding something? Once in recycle mode you're supposed to send them back so that Sonos can actually recycle (or even reuse, nothing stops them from refurbishing) the old device. Recycle mode seems to simply be a convenience so that people can get the 30% rebate immediately once they've shown they're serious about sending back the device. What sucks is that you have to trade up to recycle, if they offer…

OP is essentially returning an empty bottle for the deposit and then complaining they can't also refill and sell the same bottle themselves.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#169

Post by nisse72 »

Angostura wrote: post #26
baybal2 wrote: post #7

Well, this is where the industry is going. The latest buzzword we hear in the industry is called "product as a service" — you buy a product, but still don't own it. You have to keep paying them for using your own property or else they remotely brick the device. First gen Ipods were a prime example, but now everybody seem to want to do the same. We recently had a prospective client who had an idea of very cheap intern…

> First gen Ipods were a prime example Eh what?

I had (still have in a drawer) a 1st gen ipod, but used some gnu audio software (I forget what) to encode (encrypt?) and transfer music I had ripped from CD's I own. I never used itunes.

I think it wasn't until later generations they made this more difficult.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#170

Post by SquishyPanda23 »

foxrob92 wrote: post #159
noodlesUK wrote: post #10

What’s intensely frustrating about this is that audio equipment is one of the few areas where old high end kit is still absolutely fantastic for current users. I have an NAD 3020 from the 1980s which works perfectly with the same pair of speakers that it was bought with. I can’t say the same about other tech, but audio just doesn’t age at the same speed.

I inherited a pair of speakers my dad bought in the early 80s. They still work well, though the amp died last year and I wasn't able to repair it.

You can get a number of small amps these days that will plug into the speakers and sound great.

Many will also support Bluetooth so you can stream to your stereo.

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